- Photo:SNS
NEW DELHI: In the latest outbreak of man-elephant conflict, three people, including a woman, were killed during the wee hours on Thursday (July 31) as a wild tusker trampled them to death in forest-side Baghadharia village in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district, an official said.
With today’s death, the human toll due to elephant attacks in the last one month has gone up to five.
The tragic death of local residents due to an elephant attack triggered massive protests as people resorted to blocking the road near Satamile chowk, paralysing the vehicular traffic for several hours.
As the situation turned tense, the civil and police officials rushed to the spot to restore normalcy.
The elephant depredation occurred in Hindol forest range under Dhenkanal forest division, as a tusker on a rampage trampled three residents to death.
The victims had gone into the nearby forest to collect minor forest produce.
They died on the spot as the furious male elephant picked them up by the trunk and tossed them up in the air. They suffered serious head injuries and bled to death, said officials.
"The fatalities were reported in the early hours today. Locals rose in protest and blocked the road, seeking foolproof measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
"They demanded solar wire fencing around the village borders to stop the elephants’ intrusion into places of human habitation.
"They also sought for 24×7 forest patrol to chase the elephants away from the villages," said Pravash Kumar Beuria, Sub Collector, Hindol.
"We have taken the people’s grievances to the forest department. The issues raised by the people living in the close vicinity of elephant habitat are being addressed, and instructions in this regard have been issued to the forest department," he added.
The next of kin of the bereaved family is being covered with ex-gratia financial aid of Rs 10 lakh each as per the rules prescribed for human death due to an attack by protected animals.
The ex-gratia will be awarded to the families after completion of medico-legal formalities.
Financial assistance has, however, been provided to the next of kin of those killed in the elephant attack, he concluded.
Incidents of man-jumbo conflict are being reported across the State at regular intervals. People are getting restive.
Elephants are also facing backlash from the agitated people. The poachers may also take advantage of the situation to lay a vicious trap to kill them.
So, measures to curb the conflict need to be undertaken on a war footing, according to conservationists.
The wild animals wander in search of food due to shrinking habitats.
The protected parks and wildlife sanctuaries, which confer habitation corridors of the elephants, face the onslaught of massive encroachment from people who live and forage, or graze cattle in the forests.
The human interference of this nature is giving rise to frequent man-pachyderm confrontations, according to wildlife activists.
Meanwhile, the State Government has placed under suspension two lowly ranked forest functionaries for negligence in performing patrol duty, hours after three human fatalities were reported due to the tusker attack.
Currently, Odisha is home to 2,103 elephants as per the All Odisha Elephant Census 2024 (winter) report, said a senior forest official. - The Statesman/ANN
